Childrens Peace Education And Community Enrichment Center

Nonprofit Issues:

Arts & Culture, Children & Youth, Education

Address:

PO Box 379 AcworthGA30101USA

Mission:

"Encourage and equip children of all ages to develop peacemaking skills that enrich their lives and those around them." By providing a fun, safe, educational learning environment, we hope to eliminate violence in schools and communities, encourage children to discover their gifts and talents, equip them with skills needed to recognize harmful behaviors, and empower them to make better choices that develop good morals and values and enrich their lives.

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Reviews for Childrens Peace Education And Community Enrichment Center

The Peace Center teaches young people concepts of peace and shows practical ways to implement them into their lives. All this is done through fun, hands-on activities which tends to be internalized more than lecturing alone.

Will you volunteer or donate to this organization beyond what is required of board members?

Definitely

How much of an impact do you think this organization has?

A lot

Will you tell others about this organization?

Definitely

When was your last experience with this nonprofit?

2013

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1 previous review

Rating:
5 stars
June 21, 201206/21/2012

This is an amazing hands-on experience for children. It is mobile so can go to many different types of venues to reach many children in various settings. The hands-on exhibits teach children basic peace enhancing skills in 4 main areas. Children love to "play" with the activities, while the peace lesson is being reinforced. Children understanding peace concepts at an early age will have a positive impact as they grow up, in their own lives and the lives of others.

Will you volunteer or donate to this organization beyond what is required of board members?

Definitely

How much of an impact do you think this organization has?

A lot

Will you tell others about this organization?

Definitely

When was your last experience with this nonprofit?

2012

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1 previous review

Rating:
5 stars
September 26, 201109/26/2011

I have been involved with the Children's Peace Center because I believe strongly in its mission. If children learn about peace in a fun, hands-on way, it is more effective thn a lecture. The greater the reach, the greater the impact.

If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...

The Children's Peace Center offers lots of fun activities to help children learn conflict resolution and develop strong and thoughtful relationships. Children learn teamwork and the importance of respect, discipline, and kindness in creating a cooperative world. Their programs are fun, informative, and thought provoking. I'm proud to be part of this organization.

Will you volunteer or donate to this organization beyond what is required of board members?

Definitely

How much of an impact do you think this organization has?

Life-changing

Will you tell others about this organization?

Definitely

When was your last experience with this nonprofit?

2012

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1 previous review

Rating:
5 stars
June 9, 201206/09/2012

This wonderfulall-volunteer organization makes itself available to various groups, including schools and camps, to teach children concepts to help them resolve conflicts; learn compassion, respect, and techniques to work together to solve problems. A traveling museum, the Children's PEACE Center is an excellent teaching tool. Individual classrooms and entire schools can benefit from a visit to the Peace Mobile.

Would you volunteer for this group again?

For the time you spent, how much of an impact did you feel your work or activity had?

A lot

Did the organization use your time wisely?

Very Well

Would you recommend this group to a friend?

Definitely

When was your last experience with this nonprofit?

2012

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1 previous review

Rating:
5 stars
September 22, 201109/22/2011

I have worked with the Peace Center for two years as a volunteer. This organization has an extremely dedicated group of people. Their Peacemobile is a wonderful way to provide students with hands-on experience in peace-building and the staff of volunteers is knowledgeable and well-trained. They love to bring the Peacemobile to schools and towns where they can offer a variety of materials to teach young people how to peacefully resolve conflict, how to respect each other, how to embrace differences, and how to empower themselves through self-esteem. Their programs are fun, interactive, inspiring, and successful!

I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...

My work with the Executive Director and board members has convinced me of their dedication and strong managment skills. The ED and her volunteer staff are constangly working to spread their message and give children the tools they need to become responsible, humane, and confident adults.

If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...

love to see more funding and more volunteers.

Would you volunteer for this group again?

Definitely

For the time you spent, how much of an impact did you feel your work or activity had?

A lot

Did the organization use your time wisely?

Very Well

Would you recommend this group to a friend?

Definitely

What one change could this group make that would improve your volunteer experience?

I can't think of anything they could do to improve my experience.

Did your volunteer experience have an effect on you? (teaching you a new skill, or introducing new friends, etc.)

I've definitely made new friends and I've been able to make use of my computer skills.

How did this volunteer experience make you feel?

It makes me happy and inspires me to do more to make a difference in education.

How do you feel you were treated by this organization?

When was your last experience with this nonprofit?

Children's PEACE has always shared so much with the youth in our Mentoring and Afterschool Programs. They've helped our high school youth develop peace-related service projects over the past couple years. Now, this year we've been able to invite them to facilitate workshops on listening and conflict resolution with our K-5th grade students. Our youth loved the fun and interactive activities, and we appreciated the help with teaching them to be kinder, more peaceful leaders!

How do you feel you were treated by this organization?

When was your last experience with this nonprofit?

I am intrigued by this effort to teach children to solve conflicts peacefully. The Children's PEACE Movement mobile classroom is a delightful place to engage in various activities that demonstrate how much better it is to cooperate than to "fight." I enjoyed weaving a strip of fabric to contribute to others efforts to create a woven blanket.I am impressed with Andria Melham, who also carries out these principles in her own life, demonstrating the benefits of not responding to situations in anger. Mary Beth Jones, in her book," Jesus CEO" makes one of the most profound statements I have ever heard - "NO ONE WINS UNTIL WE ALL DO!" If anyone is "losing" then no one has "won." How many events in our world today demonstrate the truth of this statement? How much more we could accomplish if some people were not involved in the useless pursuit of making other people losers? Children's PEACE Movement, as it teaches children to solve problems without conflict is contributing to improving the future of our world.

How much of an impact do you think this organization has?

When was your last experience with this nonprofit?

With the Children's Peace Center I got to do what I live most, work with children. I found out about out through this mentoring program I was working with in high school. Ms. Melham came to talk with our students. I really enjoyed the presentation so I hopped on board. A traveling children's museum, what an awsome idea. The program teaches peacemaking skills and helps develop good character traits through Character Education, bully and violence prevention. Their is a traveling Outreach program that goes to public and private schools, homeschools, Day camps, churches, camps, etc. or through Field Trips. Included are fun, hands-on interactive exhibits, activity sheets, arts and crafts, discovery workshops, puppets, and storytelling activities that help children learn alternatives to violence, respect for each other and themselves, and how to enrich their own community and see the beauty of different cultures around them. I have learned so much while working with the programs and I spread the knowledge that I have gained every day.

Would you recommend this group to a friend?

When was your last experience with this nonprofit?

I have volunteered to assist on several occasions when the Children's Peace Center was available to the community and I am always amazed at how the activities provided help children in so many ways. It helps with their self-esteem, with knowledge about our environment and how to take care of it, conflict resolution and becoming a peacemaker in their families and communities. It is a wonderful organization and should be duplicated all over the world!

Would you recommend this group to a friend?

When was your last experience with this nonprofit?

I've been involved with this since it' s inception. As the President and Director I've seen many lives changed as we taught the programs on making better choices, learning to control emotions, getting along with others, conflict resolution, understanding different cultures and our place on the planet. I've witnessed a boy change from a rowdy youngster that was tearing everything up to a proud mentor of younger children helping them learn what he learned. I've seen parents learn to communicate better with their children and both learned to listen more effectively to each other. I've seen CEO's decide they needed to listen more and talk less to their employees. I've been thrilled when the young children tell others what they learned in the peace centers. We've been proud to have reached thousands of children and seen lives changed and thought processes change for the positive. We do this to touch lives, change attitudes and create a more peaceful future for children and families.

I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...

If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...

Get more volunteers and a permanent location to hold the programs on a regular basis

Will you volunteer or donate to this organization beyond what is required of board members?

Definitely

How much of an impact do you think this organization has?

Life-changing

Will you tell others about this organization?

Definitely

When was your last experience with this nonprofit?

2012

How did you learn about this organization?

Founder

What is this organization's top short-term priority?

Reach as many children and families as possible with a peace program

What is its top priority in the long run?

Help others establish similar programs or add to their programs, possibly have a permanent location from which to work from.

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1 previous review

Rating:
5 stars
January 29, 201101/29/2011

I'm biased as I'm the Executive Director. But I've seen so many lives changed by the programs presented and the way they help children learn to work together, see that they can resolve their own conflicts, how to avoid bullies and make better life choices. I've seen children that were tagged "the bad kids" work together and learn that teamwork is much more fun than being a bully. I've seen tears and anger turn into smiles and better attitudes just by playing these creative "games" which teach good life skills and being allowed to discuss things and be listened to. The learning centers are all hands-on, interactive activities that allow children to practice and learn to think things through. While they may be using puppets, drama, crafts, drawing, desiging, and building things, they all teach some sort of peacemaking skills such as communication, conflict resolution, taking care of yourself, building self esteem, working together, enhancing good character traits, understanding ecology and how things all work together as well as understanding different cultures. These programs have been used in schools, Homeschool groups, churches, camps, Day camps, After School programs, and special events. We operate these programs with lots of volunteers willing to take the required training and with many donations. We try to provide the programs especially to Title One Schools (low income, high risk) free or at greatly reduced fees if we have the donations or grants available to cover the basic expenses. Because we are an all volunteer organization, our costs are minimal which allows almost all donations to be used directly to provide programs for the children. The programs are brought to the location to save expenses for the participants. Many events are done for free just so the message can be shared with the elementary aged children and their families. As with most non-profits, the lack of funds does not allow the expansion of services that is desired and does not allow the future dream of a permanent peace center where all can come to learn to be a reality. We also lack regular volunteers that can be on-call. But the full time volunteer staff are all very dedicated and willing to work out whatever problems comes up in order to provide the programs when requested.
As I've worked with these programs and shared with the children I think I have learned much more than the pariticpants. One second grade girl stated "I learned that if you work as a team, you can have fun and learn a lot, even if you don't like the people you are with." I have learned that same concept along the way too. Wouldn't it be wonderful if we could all grasp that concept? I think the Children's PEACE Center has the basic answers for all of us to learn to get along more and communicate better. I've really enjoyed presenting these programs since 1996. We've had the opportunity to present them in locations from Florida to Canada and have helped other groups start similar programs. I've been asked if I didn't want to do something different and I can't image doing anything else. Helping children learn to think things through and seeing them make better life choices, avoiding drugs, alchohol and damaging behaviors, has to be the greatest reward anyone receive. Building up our future leaders as kind, thoughtful and able to manage emotions and conflicts is the only way I can see that we'll have peaceful lives.

I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...

I have grown tremendously in my own attitudes, behaviours and making choices. I've seen the results of the activities with each participant. I've seen Teachers and other Adults change their view of how children learn and grow and how much children can think things through. I've seen children learn to solve their own problems and begin to teach others how to do it too. When a Kindergartner learns to "Stop, Think, Peace" and uses those terms to stop their friends from fighting, you see that it works.

If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...

Have more dedicated volunteers and possibly paid staff that could set up a regular schedule of visits to schools and organizations. By being so flexible, it is difficult to get volunteers when you need them. If a regular schedule was developed, then volunteers would know when they were needed and could schedule their own calendars.

Will you volunteer or donate to this organization beyond what is required of board members?

Definitely

How much of an impact do you think this organization has?

Life-changing

Will you tell others about this organization?

Definitely

How did you learn about this organization?

I assisted a group in Missouri to start a children's museum that teaches peacemaking. We moved to Georgia and wanted to do the same here. We did not have funds to build a museum, so we made the traveling children's museum to take the Field Trips to the locations. I've been working with this since 1996.

What is this organization's top short-term priority?

To obtain enough funds and volunteers to provide on site Field Trips to area schools and organizations for free or greatly reduced prices so more children can have the experience.

What is its top priority in the long run?

Eventually develop a permanent site for a children's peace museum/center where children and their families can come together to learn to share, communicate, and develop better peacemaking skills and make better life choices. A place that can provide resources to help and opportunities to learn, as well as professional help for those that have special needs in anger control, and learning to work together.

When was your last experience with this nonprofit?

I volunteered and donated to the Children's Peace Center many times. It provides a very unique hands-on interactive fun time for children of all ages (6-80+) to learn about ways to make a difference in the world. It was my experience that everyone leaving the center, volunteers and children alike were amazed at what they learned about ways to resolve conflicts, manage their own emotions and take responsibility for their own actions. One of the best parts of the Children's Peace Center is that you don't have to go to it....it comes to you, providing the capability to be used in many different environments, such as camps, schools, festivals, and churches. If you are looking for a way to teach children about bullying and how to deal with it, the Children's Peace Center could be your answer.

Would you recommend this group to a friend?

When was your last experience with this nonprofit?

My belief is that God has plans for some to fulfill while on earth to bring peace and happiness to children and families. The Peace Center was begun with a dream to reach out and teach children -who would share the peace and love taught to them, to others-family, friends, school buddies; to intercede in conflicts-to teach by example the lessons learned in this wonderful tool, the Peace "Mobile" Center. Many children have no roll models because of the broken homes, some with drug addiction, physical abuse, illness....single parents who are not more than children themselves-they learn what they live with and think that cruelty, greed, speed and theft are normal. My hope for the Peace Center who bless children and families, that there will be many volunteers to GROW this program all over the US, and into other countries. Peace...If our children learn peace and peaceful means of interaction, they will grow to be peace loving adults who will lead this country with humility, peace and strength of character. A program such as this MUST be supported to survive -by helping hands and funds to enlarge and improve the program with new equipment and teaching tools. Respectfully, Kay Miller of